Loading means for magnetic



Aug. 11, 1959 MARTEL 2,899,507

LOADING MEANS FOR MAGNETIC FILMS ENSURING THE D ENDLESS WINDING UP AND UNWINDING OF THE BANDS Filed D60. 31, 1956. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 11, 1959 MA'RTEL 2,

LOADING MEANS FOR MAGNETIC FILMS ENSURING THE ENDLESS WINDING UP AND UNWINDING OF THE BANDS Filed Dec. 31, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTo/Q' iqNroN/lv MHKTEL LOADING MEANS FOR MAGNETIC FILMS ENSUR- ING THE ENDLESS WINDING UP AND UN- WINDING OF THE BANDS Apparatus for recording or audition of magnetic films are usually mounted by means of reels or bobbins on which the bands wind up or unwind. The operator must therefore carry out multiple operations for the audition.

The object of the invention consists in the realisation of a device which will permit of a continuous audition or recording without any manipulation. It gives the possibility of stopping the unwinding at any desired point, and to carry on again as often as one may desire.

It is characterised by the means employed for carrying the invention into effect taken not only in their entirety but separately and more particularly by a loading means which will permit of the storing of a magnetic film consisting of an endless band. The continuous unwinding in a determined direction being obtained by the passage of the band over rollers corresponding with the points of contact of the headings and a driving belt, causes the storing to be automatically carried out in a continuous manner so that only a reduced sector of the film is out of its housing.

On the accompanying drawings given by way of simple example in no way limitative, of one form of construction of the subject of the invention:

Figure 1 shows the loading means in longitudinal section; Fig. '2 represents in elevation the deflecting profile for the entry into the loading means; Fig. 3 shows in elevation the entire motor block and reading head; Fig. 4 represents the device as a whole seen in perspective view; Fig. 5 shows in longitudinal section an obturation pawl for the driving roller; Fig. 6 represents a modification of the apparatus shown complete and in elevation.

The loading means consists of a housing 1, Fig. l, characterising the invention, and which is in the form of a narrow parallelepiped casing with projecting walls, 2, 3 and upper shaped outer faces. supporting pulleys 4, 5 and guide rollers 6, 7 as well as a ramp 8 terminating in a tongue 8 which penetrates into the groove of pulley 5, Fig. 5.

The endless magnetic band 9 preferably introduced through the orifice 10 is centered by the guide 11, formed as in Fig. 2 by an axial slit 12 having the width of the driving belt but narrower than the band 9 which avoids all possibility of accidental stopping or jumping out.

The projecting walls 2, 3 receive the mountings 13, 14. The rear mounting 14 is extended by a flexible pawl 15 which forms at the same time both a brake regulating the unwinding and a contact subjected to the thrust of the welding point 16 of the two ends of the band.

The mountings 13, 14 are secured to a base 17 which receives as many as there are juxtaposed casings the thickness of which corresponds to the width of the film.

A slide ramp 18 receives, mounted on a sliding sleeve, an armature 19 supporting a motor 20, Fig. 4 and an arm 21. This arm receives the pulleys 22, 23 over which is stretched a driving belt 24 which ensures the tractes Patent 0 Patented Aug. 11, 1959 tion of the film 9 by taking it over the pulley 5 of the casing 1.

The reading head 25 likewise mounted on a sliding support which is not integral with the spacing sleeve 26, is kept at the desired distance so as to contact, always overlapping, the part of the band 9 which is passing over the pulley 4. A slide 27 with notch 28 holds stationary the operating handle 29 integral with a block 20, in a position corresponding to the contact by the belts and reading head with the band 9.

The loading 40 Fig. 6 is provided as in the form of detailed construction described, with cross-pieces 36, 37, 38 to reinforce the effect of the ramps 34, 35 and likewise with retaining bosses 32 destined to retain the magnetic band when the arm and the reading head 33 are displaced. A shoulder 39 placed on one wall of the loader serves as an abutment for the arm 21. A felt '41 is placed at the point ofcontact of the reading head. The cross-pieces and the bosses prevent any possibility of the endless'band coming out of the loader, the said band completing its circuit without risk or possibility of escaping from the ramps and orifices. The tension of the belt is ensured by stretchers 43 furnished with a spring 44 and an adjusting screw.

The advantages and the operation of the apparatus will hereinafter be readily understood.

The loading means 1, characterising the invention, contains, stored in an extremely reduced space, the endless band 9 sheltered from any deterioration. No matter what may be the length of the band this latter packs in by forming loops but without kink-s because the width of the housing correspondsexactly with that of the band.

The base 17 contains as many of the loaders as required the latter being juxtaposed, in view of their narrow and tall shape, in a reduced volume and are stabilised-bytheuprights or mountings 13, 14 in equivalent number. An overall cover can enclose the'whole device. The operator can cause 'the motor assembly 20 and reading head 25 to slide right along the ramp 18 and select the magnetic band required, arrow A, B. To do this he presses on the handle 29, arrow D, which escapes from the rack 28. On releasing this same handle the motor and reading head block mounted overhangingly, contact the pulleys 4 and 5. The weight is suflicient to give the driving belt 24 the necessary adherence to drive, without causing damage, the magnetic band 9. This unwinding causes the film to pass beneath the reading head 25 which following the same overhang, presses on the pulley 4 supporting the band. The apparatus functions thus with perfect sonorisation resulting from the contacts without heterogenous surface and a regular and even movement without any possibility of damage of the band which is always stretched at its outlet 10 and its entry 11. The fork 12 assuring a separation and a piling up of the entering band facilitates its passage.

The pawl 15 serves the purpose of a brake stretching the band and eliminating any possibility of slackening in the unwinding movement. It likewise serves the purpose of an interrupter by its separation at the passage of the relief 16. This interrupter stops either the motor or the transmission by the reading head, or both together. It permits of marking the end of the unwinding of the band or again to stop it at any determined point during its travel.

The operator displaes at will by means of the index 28 of the slide 27 the motor block and the reading head. He can cause either the winding up alone or the head 25 and the belt 24 combined.

According to the arrangement in Fig. 6 the nonelastic belt 31 applies the band in an enveloping fashion to the winding pulley 28 which is provided with an antiskid lining, the pressure Qf this resilient band belng assured by the weight itself. of the arm 21 carry'lng the reading headand; drivingme'a'ns. All slipping 'of the magnetic band is thus eliminated as well as the causes thereof:- slipping, skidding, creating parasitic noises which render the emission inaudible. Pulley 27 stretches the ma gneticband so that its contact on the driving lining shall be certain. This arrangement can be applied for *all purposes, private, oflicial or otherwise. The adjustable stops for the bands facilitate the markings for artistic, didactic and other purposes in order to combine the auditions with the recordings; thedialogues can be recorded in two strokes. Finally-in the case of public audition apparatuscoin-freed apparatus is combined with the locking means for/ he handle 29 or the slide 27 in order to permit the hearer the choice of the recorded bands. 1 y, j

Nevertheless the forms, dimensions,;arrangements of the difierent elements can vary within the limit of their equivalents as well as the materials used in the manufacture Without thereby exceeding the general scope of the invention which has just been described.

Iclaim: l a

1. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, a base, a plurality of magazinesfor magnetic tape mounted side by side in a row onsaid base, an endless magnetic tape in each magazine, a first roller on each magazine over which the tape is passed, and forming a seating, a second roller on each magazine over which the tape is passed, and a tape-driving device and a magnetic recording and reproducing head assembled as a unit and mounted on the base, said tape-driving device including a. motor, a driving pulley, an endless belt, and a driven pulley positioned such that the belt bears against the tape as said tape passes over the second roller, said unit being movable with respect to the base to permit it to be brought into a position wherein the head is disposed against a selected tape where the tapepasses over its seating roller.

2. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, a base, a plurality of magazines for magnetic tape mounted side by side in a row on said base, an endless magnetic tape disposed in each magazine and having a portion of increased thickness where two end portions have been welded to form a loop, a seating on each magazine over which the tape therein is disposed, electrically powered means for driving the tape over its seating, a feeler member mounted on the magazine and contactring the tape, a switch coupled to the feeler and arranged in a current feed circuit of the tape-driving means, and a magnetic recording and reproducing head mounted on the base and movable with respect to the base to permit the head to be brought into position against a selected tape where the said tape passes over its seating.

3. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, a base, a plurality of magazines for magnetic tape mounted side by side in a row on said base, an endless magnetic tape in each magazine, a seating on each magazine over which the tape therein is disposed, means for driving the tape over its seating, a slide rail mounted in spaced relationship above the base parallel to the seatings of the magazines, a notched member mounted on the base parallel to the slide rail, a slide carried rotatably and slidably on the slide rail, a pawl mounted on the slide and arranged to be engageable into a selected notch of the bar by movement of the slide along and about the slide rail, and a magnetic recording and reproducing head mounted on the slide for positioning against a selected tape Where the tape passes over its seating.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,853,966 Eckert Apr. 12, 1932 2,248,293 Woolf July 8, 1941 2,410,569 Conant Nov. 5, 1946 2,499,700v Tinkham Mar. 7, 1950 2,519,725 White Aug. 22, 1950 2,542,506 Gibson Feb. 20, 1951 2,821,576 Ganbert Ian. 28, 1958 v FOREIGN PATENTS 153,064 Australia Sept. 2, 1953 

